Dominik Bombastus Houvenaghel (1239-1301) was a rich and famous businessman landowner from Ebbing, the cousin of bounty-hunter Leo Bonhart and the owner of the arena at Claremont where Ciri was forced to participate in exhibition combat while she was Bonhart's prisoner.
He was described as an impressively fat man with pendulous jowls resembling a bulldog.[1]
Biography[]
At the time of Ciri's imprisonment and captivity (~ 1267) due to Leo Bonhart, Houvenaghel was also affiliated with the Marchioness de Nementh-Uyvar, a veritable sadist, and exploited her desires, and those of the people of Claremont, through shows of extreme violence in his arena for the sake of profit.
In 1301, the reigning emperor of Nilfgaard Jan Calveit awarded Houvenaghel the office of mayor of Neveugen as payment for his services rendered to the Empire.
Encyclopaedia Maxima Mundi entry[]
- Houvenaghel, Dominik Bombastus, b. 1239, became rich in Ebbing conducting trade on a great scale and settled in Nilfgaard; respected by previous emperors, he was appointed burgrave and director of mines in Venendal by Emperor Jan Calveit, and as reward for services rendered was given the office of mayor of Neveugen. A faithful imperial advisor, H. had the emperor's favour and also participated in many public affairs. d. 1301. While still in Ebbing, H. was engaged in numerous charitable works, supported the needy and impoverished, and founded orphanages, hospitals and nurseries, putting up plentiful sums for them. A great enthusiast of the fine arts and sport, he founded a comedic theatre and stadium in the capital, both of which bore his name. He was regarded as a model of probity, honesty and mercantile decency.
- Effenberg and Talbot, Encyclopaedia Maxima Mundi, Volume VII